0 


TO  ALL 


Who  are  defirous  of  the  Spread  of 


the  Gospel  of  our 


LORD  JESUS  CHRIST. 


Christian-  Brethren^ 

IS  KING  that  grace,  mercyj  and  peace 


V  V  may  be  abundantly  multiplied  unto 
you,  through  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jefus  Chrift,  we  take  the  liberty  to 
announce  to  you,  that,  impelled  by  a  deep 
commiferation  for  the  unhappy  hate  of  thou- 
fands,  v/ho  are  perifhing  through  lack  of  thofe 
precious  means  of  faivation  which  we  enjoy  ; 
by  a  recollection  of  our  folemn  vows  to  devote 
ourfelves  faithfully  to  the  good  of  the  king¬ 
dom  of  our  dear  Redeemer  y  and  by  the  imi- 
table  examples  of  many  others,  both  in  oui: 
own  country  and  in  Europe,  who  have  nobly 
hepped  forward  in  the  caufe  of  Zion ;  we,  a 
number  of  minihers  and  people  of  Chrih,  con¬ 
vened  in  Bohon,  on  Tuefday,  May  the  28th, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1799,  for  the  purpofe 
of  attending  to  our  duty  in  this  regard,  have 
deemed  it  expedient  to  form  into  a  Society^  in 
order  to  collect  and  combine  our  efforts,  for 
the  fpread  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glorious 
Gofpel  of  Chrih  among  the  poor  Heathens, 
and  in  thofe  remote  parts  of  our  country,  in 
which  the  inhabitants  do  not  enjoy  the  benefit 
of  a  Chrihian  Ministry,  and  Chrihian  ordi- 
nances.  That 


[  2  ] 

That  you  may  be  the  better  acquainted 
with  the  nature  and  objedl:  of  our  Society,  we 
fliali  take  leave  to  prefent  to  your  confidera- 
tion  its  Conilitution,  and  a  lift  of  its  exifting 
Officers  and  Members. 

The  Conilitution  of  the  Society  is  as  fol- 

^0\^S  * 

L  The  Society  ftiall  be  ftyled,  The  Majfa- 
chufetts  MiJJionary  Society, 

II.  The  object  of  the  Society  is,  to  diffufe 
the  knowledge  of  the  Gofpel  among  the  Hea¬ 
thens,  as  Vv^ell  as  other  people  in  the  remote 
parts  of  our  country,  where  Chrift  is  feldom 
or  never  preached. 

III.  The  Officers  of  the  Society  Ihall  be,  a 
Prefident,  Secretary,  Treafurer,  and  ten  Truft 
tees,  chofen  annually,  by  ballot. 

IV.  It  fhall  be  the  duty  of  the  Prefident  to 
regulate  the  meetings  of  the  Society,  and  ex 
officio  to  acl  as  one  of  the  board  of  Truftees, 
iix  of  whom  ihall  conftitute  a  quorum, 

V.  It  ihall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary,  to 
keep  accurate  records  of  the  Society,  and  ex¬ 
hibit  them  at  every  annual  meeting. 

VI.  It  iliall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treafurer, 
to  receive  the  property  of  the  Society,  arifing 
from  entrance  money,  annual  taxes,  and  do¬ 
nations  ;  to  anfwer  the  orders  of  the  Truftees, 
to  keep  a  fair  account  of  his  proceedings,  and 
exhibit  it  to  the  Society  at  every  annual  meet- 

Vn.  It  ihall  be  the  fpecial  duty  of  the  Trufi 
tees,  to  examine  candidates  for  the  refpe61ive 
miffions,  to  employ  and  direct  the  miffionaries, 

and. 


C  3  ] 

nnd,  if  expedient,  to  recal  them.  The  Truftees 
are  alfo  authorized  to  manage,  and  difpofe  of 
the  Society’s  property,  and  to  tranfacl  all  the 
concerns  of  the  Society,  which  require  atten¬ 
tion,  beween  one  annual  meeting  and  another 

Vfll.  It  is  expected  that  the  Truhees  hold, 
at  leaft,  a  femiannuai  meeting,  that  the  Socie¬ 
ty  may  realize  every  advantage  by  their  rea- 
fonable  and  united  attention.  They  fhall  alfo 
make  report  at  the  annual  meetings,  of  the  la« 
hour  and  fuccefs  of  the  miffionarie3,and  exhibit 
a  particular  account  of  their  own  tranfaclions, 

IX.  The  Society  fliall  meet  annually  at 
Bofton,  the  Tuefday  preceding  every  General 
Eleftlon  of  Maffachufetts,  at  ten  o’clock,  A.  M. 

X.  All  queilions  before  the  Society,  ex¬ 
cept  thofe  which  refpecl  the  amendment  of  the 
Conflitution,  fhali  be  determined  by  a  majori¬ 
ty  of  the  members  prcfent. 

XL  It  is  the  expectation  of  the  Society, 
that  the  Trullees  employ  no  characters  as  Mif- 
fionaries,  except  thofe  who  exhibit  credible 
evidence  of  being  the  fubjeds  of  fpecial  grace  ; 
and  of  that  Ghriftian  zeal,  wifdom,  informa¬ 
tion,  and  diligence,  vchich  are  adequate  to  the 
arduous  work  of  Evangelifts,  in  the  moft  felf- 
denying  circumflances. 

XIL  Any  perfon  may  become  a  member  of 
the  Society,  by  fubfcribing  the  Conflitution, 
and  paying  two  dollars  into  the  hands  of  the 
Treafurer,^  for  the  ufe  of  the  Society, 

XIII.  Every  member  fliall  be  confidered  as 
retaining  his  memberfliip,  and  obliged  to  pay 
two  dollars  annually  into  the  Treafury,  until  his 
A  2  delire 


C  4  ] 

defire  to  difcontinue  his  connexion  with  the 
Society  be  properly  expreffed  to  the  Secretary. 

XIV.  It  is  refolved,  that  though  this  Con- 
llitution  be  fubjecl  to  any  amendments,  and 
improvements,  which  the  Society  fhall  judge 
proper  to  adopt ;  yet,  that  neither  any  amend¬ 
ment  fhall  be  accepted,  except  by  the  vote  of 
two  thirds  of  the  members  prefent,  nor  before 
the  expiration  of  a  year,  after  having  been 
propofed  to  the  Society  at  an  annual  meeting. 

The  names  which  have  already  been  fub- 
fcribed  to  this  Conftitution,  are  thefe  : 


David  Sanford^ 

Freegrace  Raynolds, 

Daniel  Hopkins^ 

Titus  Theodore  Barton, 

^  Natha72iel  E^imotis^ 

Andrew  Beattie, 

^  Ezra  Weld, 

yo7iathan  Powers, 

Samuel  Niles, 

Daniel  Hardy,  ju7i. 

Samuel  Sprung, 

Charles  Coyffin,  jun. 

yofeph  Barker, 

yolm  Shyipkms, 

yolm  Crane, 

Ifaac  To77ipkins, 

Samuel  Ayjtin, 

yohn  Wait, 

yojhua  Spaulding, 

Leonard  Woods, 

Tmothy  Dickinfon, 

Elijah  Parijlo, 

^yacob  Elorton, 

Samuel  Worcejler, 

yonaihan  Strong, 

Leonard  Worcejler, 

Peter  Sanborn, 

George  Odiorne, 

^yohn  H,  Stevens, 

Kendal  Kitteredge, 

Paul  Litchjield, 

yedidiah  Morfe, 

EH  Smith, 

Nicholas  Pike, 

Samuel  Mead, 

Calvin  Park, 

Eliphalet  ^Glllet, 

yonathan  Horner^ 

The 

C  5  ] 

The  Officers  for  the  enfuing  year,  are  as  foL 
lows : 

Rev.  Nathaniel  Emmons,  D.D.  Prefident, 
Rev.  Samuel  Austin,  Secretary, 

Deacon  John  Simpkins,,  Treafiirer, 


Reverend  Meffrs. 

David  Sanford, 
Daniel  Hopkins, 
Ezra  Weld, 
Samuel  Spring, 
Joseph  Barker, 
Samuel  Niles, 
John  Crane, 
Samuel  Austin, 
Jonathan  Strong, 


>  Truftees. 


j 


We  beg  permiffion  to  obferve  to  you,  that 
the  adoption  of  this  Conllitution,  and  the 
meafures  taken  in  the  commencement  of  this 
Society,  have  been  accompanied  with  fuch  pe¬ 
culiar  fmiles  of  Providence  as  awaken  within 
us  the  moft  plealing  hope  that  it  will  enjoy 
the  divine  benediction,  and  be  greatly  inftru- 
mental  in  diffufing  the  greateft  of  all  bleffings, 
the  falvation  of  finners.  To  God^s  omnipo¬ 
tent  care  and  grace  we  commit  our  efforts  in 
this  hope. 

To  exclude  all  mifconftruCtion  and  prejudice, 
we  folemnly  declare,  that  it  is  totally  foreign 
from  our  views,  to  weaken  the  evangelical  in¬ 
fluence  of  any  fociety  of  a  fimilar  complexion 
already  exifting ;  that  we  renounce  all  party 
objects,  and  utterly  refufe  to  fuffer  any  politi- 


[  6  ] 

cal  intereft  or  confideration  whatever  to  have 
place  in  the  defign  or  operations  of  the  Society* 
Having  thus  offered  ourfelves  as  the  Maffa- 
chufetts  Miffionary  Society  to  your  notice^ 
we  take  leave  to  addrefs  you  on  the  vaflly  in- 
terefting  fubjedf  we  have  in  view* 

By  thofe  who  cordially  fubfcribe  to  the  di¬ 
vine  authority  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and 
candidly  admit  the  leading  dodfrines  which 
they  contain,  as  ail  real  Chriftians  muft  be 
fuppofed  to  do,  it  rnuft  be  conceded,  that  the 
whole  human  race  is  in  a  hate  of  apoftacy 
from  God,  under  the  curfe  of  his  violated 
law,  and  expofed  to  the  eternal  punifhments 
of  his  government  ;  that  the  glorious  Gofpei 
of  Chrift  is  the  adequate  and  the  only  medi¬ 
um  of  recovering  loft  ftnners  to  God  and  hap- 
pinefs  ;  and  that  this  Gofpei  muft  be  known, 
received,  and  obeyed,  in  order  to  the  fecurity 
of  the  unbounded  good  which  it  furnifheth  to 
the  miferable  tranfgreffor  ;  that  the  virtue 
and  happinefs  of  mankind  are  really  always  in 
proportion  to  the  influence  which  the  Gofpei 
has  upon  them  j  that  it  is  life  from  the  dead  to 
every  believer  ;  and  that  that  glory  of  God, 
with  which  it  is  fo  largely  predicted  in  the 
Scriptures,  that  the  world  fhall  fliortly  be  fill¬ 
ed,  will  effentially  confift  in  the  univerfal  and 
legitimate  influence  of  this  Gofpei.  On  thefe 
grounds  evidently,  the  grand  commiffion,, 
which  Chrift  gave  to  his  primitive  difciples. 
Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the 
Gofpei  to  every  creature  ;  he  who  believeth 
and  is  baptized,  fliall  be  faved  j  but  he  who 

believeth 


C  7  3 

believeth  not,  fhall  be  damned,^’  was  deliver** 
ed.  On  thefe  grounds  the  apoftles  of  the 
Lord  exhibited  all  that  fidelity  and  zeal,  in 
obedience  to  this  charge,  which  are  related  in 
the  New-Teftament ;  and  on  thefe  grounds, 
zeal  in  every  believer  for  the  fpread  of  ChriC- 
tianity  has  an  adequate  fanclion. 

With  thefe  confiderations  before  your 
minds  ;  with  the  perifliing,  and  therefore  very 
compafiionabie  {late  of  every  impenitent  {in¬ 
ner  ;  with  your  own  immenfe  indebtednefs  to 
redeeming  grace,  your  folemn  covenant  vows, 
your  accountability,  and  your  hopes  in  view, 
be  intreated  to  call  the  eye  of  attentive  obfer- 
vation  upon  the  condition  of  thoufands  and 
millions  of  our  guilty  race,  in  other  countries 
and  our  own,  particularly  among  the  Heathen 
tribes,  and  on  the  frontiers  of  the  United 
States,  forming  a  vaft  line  of  new  fettlements, 
peculiarly  embarraifed  with  refpecl  to  their 
religious  interefts  by  local  circumilances  5  and 
ailr,  whether,  when  their  danger  is  fo  great, 
when  their  fpirituai  wants  are  fo  urgent,  when 
there  is  fo  much  zeal  on  the  part  of  wicked- 
nefs,  infidelity  and  atheifm,  counteracting  the 
Gofpel,  there  be  not  reafon  for  us  to  put  forth 
every  exertion,  for  the  {pread  of  that  precious 
Gofpel,  which  is  the  grand  charter  of  our  eter¬ 
nal  inheritance. 

Have  we  not,  dear  Brethren,  been  too  long 
and  too  deeply  {lumbering,  with  refped:  to  our 
duty  in  this  great  affair  ?  What  {liall  we  not 
be  willing  to  do  ?  What  ffiali  v/e  not  be  will¬ 
ing  to  facrifige  i  Is  not  the  intereft  of  Chrift 

our 


C  8  3 

our  intereft  ?  And  have  we,  as  his  people,  any 
thing  to  do  but  to  promote  it  ?  May  we  not, 
then,  hope  that  our  inilitution  will  meet  with 
your  warmeft  approbation  ;  and  that  we  fliall 
have  the  benefit  of  your  joint  co-operations, 
your  influence,  your  prayers  f  Will  you  be¬ 
come  united  to  our  Society  ?  If  this  be  in¬ 
convenient,  will  you  not,  as  the  Lord  has 
furnifhed  you  with  the  means,  open  the  hand 
of  a  generous  charity,  and  contribute  to  the 
fupport  of  the  great  objecl  before  us  ?  As  the 
ftate  of  the  world  is,  the  utility  of  the  Society 
will  depend  much,  very  much,  upon  its  pecu¬ 
niary  means.  The  Society  holds  itfelf  refpon- 
flble  for  the  moft  faithful  appropriation  of  all 
monies,  which  may  be  contributed  and  for¬ 
warded  to  the  Treafurer,  who  will  give  re¬ 
ceipts,  and  enter  fuch  contributions  on  the  ac¬ 
counts  of  the  Society. 

In  a  word,  dear  Brethren,  we  would  fecure 
your  attention,  your  hearts,  your  prayers, 
your  influence,  your  exertions  and  your  pecu¬ 
niary  abilities,  to  the  benevolent  objed  we  are 
purfuing. 

That  God  may  incline  your  hearts  to  that 
which  is  pleaflng  to  himfelf,  and  prepare  us, 
with  all  the  redeemed,  for  his  coming  and 
kingdom,  is  the  fervent  prayer  of  your  breth¬ 
ren  in  Chrifto 

In  behalf  of  ike  Society^ 
NATHANIEL  EMMONS,  Prefident. 
Dane  in  Bojion^  May  ^799* 

Atteji, 

Samuel  Austin,  Secretary, 


t 


tsr4 

■k*  •  v  IB  1 

